The Franklin Plan Commission couldn’t reach a decision on a proposed annexation east of Interstate 65 in Franklin.
Franklin Tech Park’s request to annex into the city and rezone 42.43 acres on County Road 600 East to light industrial from agricultural did not receive a favorable or unfavorable recommendation last week after the votes ended 4-5 and 5-4, respectively, and did not meet the majority threshold needed for the 11-member commission. The proposal will come back before the board next month.
The proposed annexation is directly south of a 66-acre rezone and annexation of land north and south of the intersection of State Road 44 and County Road 600 East which the Franklin City Council approved in May.
Franklin Tech Park partner Mac McNaught said the development is a natural progression for a property 1.2 miles east of I-65. There is no tenant yet, but the facilities are built with the needs of the market in mind.
Because the property is bisected by a gas pipeline, its use is limited. Instead of a large building, two buildings would be built on either side of the pipeline easement, McNaught said.
The proposal comes with several commitments from Franklin Tech Park, including commitments that would shield landowners to the east and south, including preserving existing fencerow trees when possible, and planting at least 50 trees within 100 feet of the eastern property line, according to city documents.
If approved, the annexation would bring the total of industrial zoned acreage east of the interstate to more than 1,000 acres.
Franklin Tech Park’s original project is nearly 300 acres and includes Energizer, Interstate Warehousing, Aisin and Cooper Tire’s former headquarters. It has since moved to a larger facility in Whiteland.
Sunbeam Development Corp. has acquired 547 acres, while another development, I-65 South Logistics Park, has acquired 68 acres.
Area residents were concerned their quality of life would deteriorate with light pollution, noise and traffic from yet another industrial development. They were already concerned about growth that is in the works, so they asked the commission to consider holding off on this annexation request until the other buildings are completed and occupied.
Several neighbors who shared concerns about previous rezones were back again, sharing similar remarks.
Jean DeVore, a nearby property owner, was concerned about the implications of having so many potentially empty warehouses near his home, bringing up potential health and public safety concerns. She and others encouraged the plan commission to consider hitting pause on this type of development.
“I’m not asking you to say ‘no’ because that would be idealistic. I’m asking you to wait because this opportunity will still be there next year and the year after that. When the other warehouses are filled there will still be time to do it,” DeVore said.
Andy Hensley, whose family owns and farms the land east of the development, asked the plan commission to consider whether people in Franklin want this kind of development.
The commission gave a “no recommendation” on the previous Franklin Tech Park annexation and rezone in May, but needs to do more this time, Hensley said.
The Franklin City Council voted 4-3 for that rezoning, and unanimously approved that annexation.
“This body gave a no recommendation and city council gave a split vote … A no recommendation wasn’t strong enough,” Hensley said. “You’re either in or you’re out.”
